Does Rousseau’s Du Contrat Social signal the advent of modern democracy? Or does it represent a dangerous recipe for the suppression of individual human freedom?
Does Rousseau 's _Du Contrat Social_ signal the advent of modern democracy? Or does it represent a dangerous recipe for the suppression of individual human freedom?
Rousseau 's social contract is often likened to modern democracy, however, most political ideologies can be likened to one another in some form and one doesn 't have to dig deep before they find some major differences between the two ideologies. In his writing, Rousseau tries to develop an ideology that maintains humans individual freedom, but in a social way. However his ideology is full of flaws and is missing a key ingredient for implementation into human life. In order to understand these flaws one must explore the features of his ideology. Firstly in order to understand his ideology one must first understand the emphasis he places on human freedom. Secondly this essay will look at the basic essence of the social contract and look at how Rousseau tries to justify the movement of natural freedom to social freedom. Thirdly this essay will explore the ways in which Rousseau intended the state to be protected from dissolution. The fourth paragraph will look at the formation and the purpose of law in the state. The fifth paragraph will discuss the role of the government, and the differences between the social contract and democracy. Paragraph six will look at the flaws and inconsistencies in his ideology and what effect these would have on people. Lastly the essay will be concluded by tying in all the major points and the formulation of an appropriate answer to the question at hand.
Central to Rousseau 's writings is his focus on human and individual freedom. He begins by making the point that man could not be free if he belonged to a monarch. He viewed men under a king as slaves. For a citizen to be free he needed to belong to a republic whose laws are drawn up by its people. (Keens-Soper, 1988, p.173). He believed that man had moved from a position of freedom to a position of servitude under
Rousseau 's social contract is often likened to modern democracy, however, most political ideologies can be likened to one another in some form and one doesn 't have to dig deep before they find some major differences between the two ideologies. In his writing, Rousseau tries to develop an ideology that maintains humans individual freedom, but in a social way. However his ideology is full of flaws and is missing a key ingredient for implementation into human life. In order to understand these flaws one must explore the features of his ideology. Firstly in order to understand his ideology one must first understand the emphasis he places on human freedom. Secondly this essay will look at the basic essence of the social contract and look at how Rousseau tries to justify the movement of natural freedom to social freedom. Thirdly this essay will explore the ways in which Rousseau intended the state to be protected from dissolution. The fourth paragraph will look at the formation and the purpose of law in the state. The fifth paragraph will discuss the role of the government, and the differences between the social contract and democracy. Paragraph six will look at the flaws and inconsistencies in his ideology and what effect these would have on people. Lastly the essay will be concluded by tying in all the major points and the formulation of an appropriate answer to the question at hand.
Central to Rousseau 's writings is his focus on human and individual freedom. He begins by making the point that man could not be free if he belonged to a monarch. He viewed men under a king as slaves. For a citizen to be free he needed to belong to a republic whose laws are drawn up by its people. (Keens-Soper, 1988, p.173). He believed that man had moved from a position of freedom to a position of servitude under
Bibliography: Keens-Soper, M. (1988) 'Jean-Jacques Rousseau: _The Social Contract_ ' in Forsyth, M. and Keens-Soper, M. (eds) _The Political Classics, A Guide to the Essential Texts from Plato to Rousseau_ (Oxford University Press 2003), 171-202